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arXiv · 2007.03743

Maxwell equations in a curved spacetime: Spin optics approximation

Valeri P. Frolov
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Abstract

We study propagation of high-frequency electromagnetic waves in a curved spacetime. We demonstrate how a modification of the standard geometric optics allows one to include the helicity dependent corrections into the equations of motion of circularly polarized beams of radiation. As a result, polarized light rays are still null but not geodesic curves. To achieve these results we construct null frames associated with a set of (non-geodesic) null rays and use these frames for description of the high-frequency wave propagation. We call this approach spin optics approximation. It is completely covariant and it can be used in an arbitrary time-dependent gravitational field.

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Valeri P. Frolov. 2020-07-07. Maxwell equations in a curved spacetime: Spin optics approximation. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevd.102.084013

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